Auckland City starts search for new CEO

Auckland City’s long serving chief executive, Bryan Taylor, has confirmed his previously indicated intention not to seek an extension of his contract.

The city council last night agreed to set in train a process to find his replacement – in a move aimed at ensuring a smooth transition for the new CEO, who will take up the position from 2 July next year.

The council has set up a special chief executive selection sub committee, chaired by Deputy Mayor Mr David Hay, to decide whether the search should start before July this year, or after January next year. The sub committee will report back to the council’s 13 May meeting.

The process could see a CEO designate appointed before Mr Taylor leaves.

Mr Hay says the process needs to allow for a smooth transition in the city’s most important position. It will also need to ensure the council which takes office after October’s local government elections enjoys smooth management stewardship.

The Controller and Auditor-General’s guidelines recommend no selection of a chief executive should take place in the few months before or after an election. In practice this means steps need to be taken before July this year or after January next year. Conducting the entire search and selection process after next January would impose a tight time frame and be potentially more disruptive to the organisation, the council was told last night.

“The council has therefore to decide whether it addresses the matter before July this year, or after January next year. That’s what we’ll decide on 13 May,” Mr Hay said.

The specialist executive recruitment company Sheffields will help with the selection. After this process, Mr Taylor will consider appointing a chief executive designate at an appropriate time before 2 July 2005.

Mr Hay said Mr Taylor was one of the country’s outstanding chief executives.

Auckland’s Mayor, Hon John Banks, describes Mr Taylor’s contribution to the city as being in the “finest traditions of the public service”.

“I work well with him. We’ve achieved a lot with his help. We need only look at the $23 billion in public and private projects underway or planned across the city.

“We have a lot of things to achieve before he goes. This earlier start to find a replacement means the city administration will keep running like clockwork.”

Mr Taylor joined Auckland City in June 1989 with amalgamation and held the roles of director, civic enterprises and director, city services.

Since June 1996 he has been Chief Executive with responsibility for 1700 staff. Auckland City has an operating expenditure of $408 million, capital expenditure of $203 million and assets of more than $6 billion.

Before joining the city the Auckland University graduate had enjoyed a 25 year career at Reidrubber/ Feltex, starting in 1965 where he had experience in production, distribution, sales, marketing, strategic planning and general management.

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